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Offline TimothyR

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Question for the group
« on: April 03, 2020, 07:54:45 pm »
Is this black locust?  And do you have to take sapwood off or can a layer be left on?
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Offline Hrothgar

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Re: Question for the group
« Reply #1 on: April 03, 2020, 08:05:08 pm »
I'm pretty sure that's BL. I haven't used any for 15  years but I remember the popular consensus was that you could leave up to to 1/3 of the limb thickness sapwood for a natural backing.
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Offline Jim Davis

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Re: Question for the group
« Reply #2 on: April 03, 2020, 09:36:07 pm »
I made a bl bow that was almost all sapwood in the limbs, because the tree was too small to do otherwise. It was a great bow and finally failed in compression when over-drawn.
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Offline Pat B

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Re: Question for the group
« Reply #3 on: April 03, 2020, 10:07:43 pm »
Looks like BL to me. The bigger tree in the 2nd pic looks like it has quite a twist to it.
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Offline Dvshunter

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Re: Question for the group
« Reply #4 on: April 03, 2020, 10:08:51 pm »
I agree with Pat on both counts.
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Offline TimothyR

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Re: Question for the group
« Reply #5 on: April 04, 2020, 01:24:25 am »
Quote from: Pat B on April 03, 2020, 10:07:43 pm
Looks like BL to me. The bigger tree in the 2nd pic looks like it has quite a twist to it.

Pat. That pic was just added  for bark reference. I cut a larger one down in the same area. and peeled the bark off. I just wanted to make sure that it was bl as I thought it was. The one I cut is pretty straight, 10' long and 5" at the base. I think I can get a couple bows out of it. Didn't know if I should take the sapwood off or not.
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Offline BowEd

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Re: Question for the group
« Reply #6 on: April 04, 2020, 06:44:28 am »
Yes BL will grow in colonies.Where there is one others usually are there too.
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Offline Swampman

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Re: Question for the group
« Reply #7 on: April 04, 2020, 07:18:51 am »
I agree that is black locust.

I recently made a bow out of black locust that ended up almost all sapwood.  There is just a small amount  of heart wood on the belly.  It turned out to look really nice and has decent performance.  I am currently working on another in which I am chasing a sap wood ring so I end up with more heart wood so the contrast is sap and heart wood is more even.  I am hopeful this one will be even better.

Good luck with your black locust.
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Offline TimBo

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Re: Question for the group
« Reply #8 on: April 04, 2020, 07:37:39 am »
Yep, I would say that is BL.  Small thorns, right?  I can't zoom in enough to tell.  My experience with BL leads me to take the sapwood off.  It has checked on me really badly when just"peeled and sealed".  I have a couple of staves now that I didn't have time to work down to heartwood, so I left the bark on.  The sapwood is a real bugger to get off once it is dried.  I think if the sapwood is thick and you like the contrast, I would chase down to the last ring or two before the heartwood. 
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Offline George Tsoukalas

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Re: Question for the group
« Reply #9 on: April 04, 2020, 08:34:36 am »
Do you see the long seed pods?
I've made many BL bows and learned on it.
If you do not have enough heartwood then you can lead the sapwood.
Jawge
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Offline bassman

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Re: Question for the group
« Reply #10 on: April 04, 2020, 09:19:53 am »
I have tried the sap wood method with agonizing results.  The backs would either break, or the bellies fretted. Probably me , not the wood. I made 4 with no luck with that wood. Then I found a thicker ringed log ,and chased a clean ring into the heart wood. All of those came out good with no breaks, or frets, so I favor chasing a heart wood ring with Black Locust . Same thing with Osage. JMO. Good luck with yours.
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Offline TimothyR

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Re: Question for the group
« Reply #11 on: April 04, 2020, 09:55:22 am »
Here is the one I cut. Should be able to get 1 or 2 bows out of it. Hopefully
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Offline TimothyR

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Re: Question for the group
« Reply #12 on: April 04, 2020, 09:58:19 am »
More
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Offline Pat B

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Re: Question for the group
« Reply #13 on: April 04, 2020, 11:17:57 am »
Timothy, just because the tree is straight doesn't mean it's not twisted. Have you split it yet?
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline TimothyR

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Re: Question for the group
« Reply #14 on: April 04, 2020, 09:55:53 pm »
Quote from: Pat B on April 04, 2020, 11:17:57 am
Timothy, just because the tree is straight doesn't mean it's not twisted. Have you split it yet?

Not yet
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